mysql picture import

I would recommend against using the BLOB data type to hold pictures.  There are many reasons for this related to backup and performance.  Instead, put the pictures in a directory of the server and put the URL or file path of the pictures in the data base.  The exact way to do this would depend on use cases that aren't part of the question, but the overall picture is still the same: No Pictures in the Data Base.

I understand and thank you for the advice.

However there is already this system which uses blob fields for pictures and I need to upload the given pictures to the database.

So the question remains the same.

Well, the correct thing to do would be to convert the existing system to use the server file system and get the pictures out of the data base.  This is sort of like driving on the wrong side of the road.  You can get away with doing it a lot, but when something goes wrong (like someone runs a SELECT * query without a LIMIT clause) the results are going to be extremely suboptimal.

I do not have any teaching example showing how to put image files into a data base (mostly because anybody who has ever done that would never do it again).  But I am willing to try to help you with your code.  If you want to post the code you've started and tell me where you're stuck, I will be glad to help as much as I can.

This is not a "just finished" software, but a long time "ready to use" one.
Quite a few customers use it already and it would take me at least a week to rewrite it as you said.
The customer needs this import on Monday so rewriting the software is not an issue now.

When I asked the question I already new the pros and cons of storing the files in the database.

All I need is an importing software because I have 2 days left to import the files.

Can you show me the basics of the data base table, please?  Column names and definitions, etc.  It's not hard to write such a thing.

What would you do about duplicate file names?  Keep the first, keep the last, etc.,

It's a mysql table:

  `tk_autoinc` int(11) unsigned NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,
  `tk_product_autoinc` int(11) unsigned DEFAULT NULL, -- this connects to the product
  `tk_picture` mediumblob,

This is connected to the product table:
  `product_autoinc` int(11) unsigned NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,
  `product_name` varchar(80) NOT NULL,
...

There are no duplicate names for sure.

The database can handle many picture per product but this import has only one picture per product.
The file name contains the autoinc of the product e.g. 12545665333.jpg belongs to the product with product_autoinc=12545665333.

The application is Delphi based so the example can be in Delphi code as well.

Thank you